http://www.stpeter.org.nz/blog/ The latest Blog feeds from www.stpeter.org.nz en-us Sat, 22 Aug 2026 06:45:16 +1200 Rocketspark http://www.stpeter.org.nz/blog/post/168932/views-from-the-pews-a-consecrated-life/ “Take my silver and my gold, Not a mite would I withhold. Take my intellect and useEvery power as Thou shalt choose.”Verse 4 of Frances Ridley Havergal’s hymn above beautifully reflects the guidance in God’s word about how we are to live.  The words express a desire to consecrate one’s possessions and abilities to God, to be used by Him as He chooses. The last chapter of a very tiny, old book on my bookshelf is titled “How should we then live?” On Sundays we come to churc... Sun, 23 Aug 2026 00:00:00 +1200 http://www.stpeter.org.nz/blog/#post168932 http://www.stpeter.org.nz/blog/post/168738/views-from-the-pews-extravagant-faith/ Matthew 15:21-28 tells a pivotal story of a person who is doubly marginal – she is a woman and a Gentile (Canaanite).The story has some beautiful moments. The woman comes to Jesus and appeals, “Have mercy on me Lord, Son of David; my daughter is tormented by a demon.” Her pleas annoy the disciples who urge him to send her away. Jesus seems to ignore the woman and instead he responds to the disciples with the clear limitation of his ministry goals: he was sent to Israel. Should he make an e... Sun, 16 Aug 2026 00:00:00 +1200 http://www.stpeter.org.nz/blog/#post168738 http://www.stpeter.org.nz/blog/post/168480/st-peters-cathedral-announces-dame-malvina-major-music-centre/ Waikato Cathedral Church of St Peter has officially announced that the first stage of its Strengthening and Restoration Programme, the Music Centre, will be named in honour of Dame Malvina Major. The Dame Malvina Major Music Centre recognises Dame Malvina’s extraordinary contribution to New Zealand’s musical and cultural life, her lifelong commitment to nurturing music and young musicians, and her support as an Appeal Patron for the Cathedral’s vision for the future.... Fri, 07 Aug 2026 15:12:00 +1200 http://www.stpeter.org.nz/blog/#post168480 http://www.stpeter.org.nz/blog/post/168467/views-from-the-pews-grafted-into-christ/ Recently we moved house. Our pets and our honey bees in their hive moved home too. Soon after our move the honey bees’ apiarist visited, bearing a tiny golden peach tree he had beautifully grated onto sturdy rootstock. I marvelled at the strength of the stock, the smooth but evident graft, and the healthy, vibrant branches swelling with new spring buds. In John 15:1-17 Jesus describes our relationship with him and our heavenly Father using a planted vine analogy. “Remain in me, and I will re... Fri, 07 Aug 2026 00:00:00 +1200 http://www.stpeter.org.nz/blog/#post168467 http://www.stpeter.org.nz/blog/post/168116/views-from-the-pews-the-touchstone/ ... Sun, 02 Aug 2026 00:00:00 +1200 http://www.stpeter.org.nz/blog/#post168116 http://www.stpeter.org.nz/blog/post/167893/views-from-the-pews-patriot/ It’s time for another book review. ‘Patriot’ is a personal and political memoir written by the late Alexei Navalny, who died in mysterious circumstances while a prisoner of the Russian state in 2024. It is clear that the author sees himself as patriotic, but argues that true patriotism has a strictly moral - and self-denying - basis. Navalny believed in a Russia free of state-enabled crime where ordinary Russians were free to reach their own potential. He was a devoted family man, a husban... Sun, 26 Jul 2026 00:00:00 +1200 http://www.stpeter.org.nz/blog/#post167893 http://www.stpeter.org.nz/blog/post/167676/views-from-the-pews-what-are-our-red-lines/ A parishioner asked for help in identifying what was distinctive in the New Zealand Anglican Church, what we were proudest of, and what we would say to others in order to encourage them to come and see what we do. This led to a discussion about change in the Church, how it is managed, and whether we had any red lines that would need defending at all costs. We both cited cases of parishes that suffered from ill-managed change, sometimes driven by newcomers who felt a God-given mission to effect c... Sun, 19 Jul 2026 00:00:00 +1200 http://www.stpeter.org.nz/blog/#post167676 http://www.stpeter.org.nz/blog/post/167311/views-from-the-pews-jutta-ackerman/ Amid the noise of the daily news cycle - fear, division, and anger, it is easy to forget one of the great achievements of the last 80 years - the resumption of grown-up relationships with Germany, Japan, and to a significant extent, Vietnam. International reconciliations are assumed to be the work of leaders, diplomats, royalty. And it is true that the reconciliation with Germany was partly borne on cold winds blowing from the former Soviet Union. Yes, politics has its place, and all those glitt... Thu, 09 Jul 2026 11:49:03 +1200 http://www.stpeter.org.nz/blog/#post167311 http://www.stpeter.org.nz/blog/post/167106/views-from-the-pews-no-man-is-an-island/ No man is an island,Entire of itself,Every man is a piece of the continent,A part of the main.If a clod be washed away by the sea,Europe is the less.As well as if a promontory were.As well as if a manor of thy friend'sOr of thine own were:Any man's death diminishes me,Because I am involved in mankind,And therefore never send to know for whom the bell tolls;It tolls for thee.                    &nb... Sun, 05 Jul 2026 00:00:00 +1200 http://www.stpeter.org.nz/blog/#post167106 http://www.stpeter.org.nz/blog/post/166767/views-from-the-pews-pied-beauty/ Glory be to God for dappled things –    For skies of couple-colour as a brinded cow;       For rose-moles all in stipple upon trout that swim; Fresh-firecoal chestnut-falls; finches’ wings;    Landscape plotted and pieced – fold, fallow, and plough;       And áll trádes, their gear and tackle and trim.All things counter, original, spare, strange;    Whatever is fickle, freckled (who knows how?)   &n... Sun, 28 Jun 2026 00:00:00 +1200 http://www.stpeter.org.nz/blog/#post166767